Hydroponic PVC Rails: Round vs Square?

[@marknack7816]

I have a 4 X 4 PVC post sleeve system like yours and agree 100% with you! BUT SERIOUSLY!!! TOXICITY! : I have the exact reservoir as you, I did a ton of research on all the manufacturers of the black / Yellow top totes. ALL are made of recycled polypropylene resin (PP). BECAUSE it is a post consumer plastic there will definitely be leaching of chemicals that you DO NOT WANT!!! Please look up a food safe drum liner or the like and line your reservoir / tote with it to prevent I'll effects. We all learn new things every day!!! Great video! Best wishes!

[@CGreciful]

Thanks for that, I was about to use a tote. Also the fence posts are cheap vinyl PVC, not uPVC, they are more leachy and toxic than the totes….

[@marknack7816]

@CGreciful Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) is safe, so long as the water temp. never goes above 120F. It can be used in some municipalities that accept it as code compliant. I got a mylar drum liner off Amazon to line my tote. I find the 27 gal. Totes to be perfect size. Best Regards.

[@CGreciful]

@@marknack7816 depends if you're talking about chlorinated or un-plasticized PVC. The fence posts are the cheap stuff (why would they use the expensive stuff for a fence!). Just be careful, there are dozens of types of PVC out there. The bad ones are REALLY bad and the good ones are REALLY good.

[@newemail4917]

Shh, nobody cares of your opinion. Not to offend. People care about real results. Don't let that make you mad but based opinions vs facts. Facts win and opinions are like a$$holes. Everyone has one. And that doesn't matter

[@newemail4917]

Unbiasedly give an opinion or do not at all

[@nalingosalia7667]

thanks for sharing. To me sharing is caring .We came with nothing , will go with nothing , only things shared will remain as a memory

[@DrGaryGreen]

Thank you for this great information. I won't start hydroponic until next Spring but from what I've learned from you, I've already changed much of what I'd planned to do. Please keep posting.

[@TOEC]

The modular ability of the square rails is great. Looking to start small and expand once it's working. Thank you for going over the differences between the two.

[@iohin]

yeah, but it's not NSF 61 approved. Not taking a chance

[@RichardBronosky]

This is great! I would have never thought to use fence posts. As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what it was and all the benefits. Still, I wouldn't have thought of it on my own. Thank you!

[@linr7342]

If using pool noodles instead of net cups you get a nice smooth fit in the round and save a lot of $.

[@ragenbostrom8075]

Brilliant

[@leetpg]

Be grateful you guys have access to this stuff. Here in Australia, its near impossible to find any similar square PVC tubing. Plenty of 100mm x 50mm but too shallow. Not many importers for this stuff.

[@IAmMisterD]

same in Canada, I think 10 ft of the square post cover is $50-90 depending on where you look!

[@peterbeyer5755]

Bunnings sells 100 x 65 mm PVC.

[@alexj5157]

Just a simple tip, when building with round pipe, you can get a heat gun and heat around the holes... with a simple piece of wood then slight press area flat around the holes to stop that leaning issue. Awesome set up though mate! Cheers

[@kolobkolobkolobkolob]

I like the one DEA what would the heat which gets above 140 leach anything bad out of pvc? A good question though.

[@yamhlaba]

Show a video

[@hydrogreen1111]

Excellent. Thanks for this review. I have several systems running: two towers with LED lights (indoor) and one outdoor system using piping. After using the piping system growing 108 plants I can see the square or rectangular type system is far better. The basil growing in the piping system are large now and the top heavy plants cause the roots growing inside a basket to occasionally pop out of the pipe. Also, it would seem to me there is better water flow to provide nutrients to the roots and more space for the roots to grow in rectangular or square channels. I think the rectangular channels would reduce the amount of water needed as well.

[@sampop5875]

What are you using for a fertilizer or nutrient solution . Those greens look very good

[@45valk]

I like your set up, I use 2”x3” down spout 👍

[@kurbshurbs]

If you use silicone and just seal around each connection than the whole system won’t leak and can be take apart and re assembled as many times as you need, also way better for cleaning the pvc. Connect all the 4” pipes + Tees + 90s then just seal the end, I used painters tape to make professional looking seals. The silicone can also be removed from everything after dis assembly just by picking it off.

[@MattGarver]

Personal experience and wise comments! Thanks for sharing.

[@oyamistaeroponics5642]

Thank you! I never realized we could buy square. Going shopping now...

[@psvisualdesign]

I wish I could, ... :/ Here in Germany all hardware stores are closed so I can’t go and buy pipes ordering them online would get the job done but is pricier, so not an option

[@GeorgeLeite]

What do you think about your choice to feed all the rails off each other rather than a manifold system and separate input lines per rail?

[@carllubrin8518]

Wow I’m building this in my back yard that’s so cool plus veggies in oz are costing us an arm and legs nowadays

[@kensok1217]

Hello mate, thank you for sharing. Very appreciated. Can I ask you for the measurement the racks you built? And look like you plant in door with lamp light, what kind of light bulbs U using and how many light bulbs? Thank you very much for contribution.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Thanks, glad you found it helpful! I don't have CAD drawings for the racks at this time, I just built it to match the systems that I had. We have another video on lighting that I think will answer your questions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/paHCqGqqpNmao8U

[@patrickrodgers7864]

Wonderful wonderful wonderful I am building a greenhouse and I'm going to do exactly what you're doing!

[@lawrencejohnson3259]

Great video thank you for posting! Do you have a video that details the construction of the square PVC pipe garden? Thanks

[@koonanthony]

I believe those vinyl fence posts are made of a similar pvc as plumbing pipe. I used pvc cement on my rail end caps and they seem to have formed a solid bond. I slathered extra cement in the corners just to make sure it wont bust a leak at some point. Hopefully they wont be too difficult to clean out at the end of the season because of the end caps being permanently attached...

[@jackattack9799]

they are not, fence post are made of vinyl not pvc and injected with chemicals to resist cracking / mold at least here in canada. My dad has a greenhouse and called the manufacture of the post that are at homedepo and was told they are NOT food grade

[@smob0]

This is an indoor system, but if you are doing this outside, another advantage of fence posts is they are typically UV stabilized plastic vs plumbing pipes which usually aren't.

[@kolobkolobkolobkolob]

The vinyle has plaster users in it and should not be used for hydroponics per chemical engineering friend mine but makes sense. Use only schedule 40, 51 or 61 safe PVC. I know its a bummer would like go flat but unless you order by chance of it direct from manufacturer u will likely have stick with the schedule 40 pipe from local stores. Do not get the Schedule 40 series foam core pipe accidentally though just the heavy schedule 40. Also get Schedule 40 2" pipe and go with utterly as much safe off as possible. Super video n nice comments all helping and supporting info here.

[@crawford323]

In any of my systems, I first paint the whole thing with black paint then a coat of white in an attempt to slow down algae growth. I try to keep it dark inside the system but, if this is not a concern the a coat of paint to keep sun damage is a good idea too. Be sure to mask off areas where paint is not wanted.

[@pradhanlifestor7313]

My god it's amazing to see such a beautiful creative work. In a place like Darjeeling it's a new thing, never dreamt of it.l like to learn from you,l hope you would like to help knowing this new technology

[@miniphoton]

Thank you for the video , it help me to rethink before actions.

[@MacClay8]

I've had good luck setting up the round tubes with rubber bands on the ends to work as a gasket instead of cementing them in place. I did this mostly as I was still working on the configuration and didn't want anything to be permanent, but it still works well enough and lets you disassemble things later. The square tubes have a lot going for them, but they cost more, you can't get them in as long of lengths (or I haven't been able to find them), and I haven't been able to find any food safety ratings on them for anyone that might care about that.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Cool, I'm working on another system with round tubes and may try the rubber band trick. I remember trying it awhile back and it worked well.

[@highstreamgaming321]

Hello Simple Green, i Truly must Say Amazing Video, Tho all your facts are valid and truly informative might i say from my own exp.i have been using both for quite a long time i have tried so many different solutions and to the issues you speak of with round pipe i do understand net pots dont fit well i found using pool noodles for plugs instead works so much nicer and cheap to replace not to monition limiting your mind to exclude what seems to be impossible making a truly modeler system from round is more them possible with the right part

[@kfox5301]

You could've capped the round pvc on both ends and used the same union setup as the square with a rubber grommet instead of the tees. You can also dimple the round pvc to give you a flat top surface. You could even sandwich the pvc between 2x4 and use sand and a heat gun to make them square if you really wanted to.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Yes, those are good ideas! The round PVC may be less stable and be susceptible to roll without the strong tees on the end, but you could probably make something to solve that problem or flatten it out with a heat gun.

[@RoganClipsforyou]

Takes a plumber to know one.

[@Atheism-And-Normative-Ethics]

Or cut a sideways slit in the PVC, perpendicular to the PVC pipe, use a heatgun then take a rod a tiny bit smaller than the size of your net cup and jam it at an angle so that it slides under one flap of the slit pushing one flap down and one flap up, then move in a circular motion until it's round and expanded to the size of your net cup. Now you have a vertical garden and you can use a mister at the top top aerate the water

[@karandeepsingh8134]

Hi , i wanted to know what kind of hydroponic system is good for strawberry , so that we can grow more number of plant in the same area .

[@juddi753]

I had the opportunity to watch plastic troughs be built for a huge indoor hydroponic operation ( growing machines 2 to 3 storeys high ) . The troughs were built onsite from thick plastic shaped into half bowls with end caps plastic welded ( I didn't know plastic could be welded ) on each end .Awesome to see finished and operational. Maybe you could plastic weld a flat end cap to your square troughs ???

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Yes, lots of options with custom fabrication. At this point I'm trying to use readily available materials so it's accessible for anyone, but it would be cool if there was more specialized solutions for hobby growers available in the future.

[@go_all_the_way]

Building my system in a carpeted area. How concerned do i need to be about potential leakage from the fence post covers (assuming i use silicone)? Is it worth building square or for watertight safety, should i rather use pvc round piping? I can't afford to have any leakage whatsoever and i don't have any other space to grow in (I live in NYC and the only domain i have a say over is my bedroom)

[@crawford323]

I cut pvc 1/2” thick or wide rings out of two inch pipe ( if you are using 2” net cups) and inserted in the openings to prevent wobble.

[@bonilla2022]

Are all the other materials food grade? , glues, connectors, etc. 😎👍

[@insertclevernamehere2506]

Some excellent points in this video, you've given me some things to think about. TBH I suspect price and availability (both piping but especially for fittings like endcaps) are likely to be the deciding factors on which pipes ultimately get used - here most of this type of piping is intended to be downpiping for house guttering, and tends to be round.

[@RichardBronosky]

Oooooo, rain gutters are a great idea! Every time I see one of these DIY systems, I think "how are you going to clean that?" I think you are on to something great!

[@marcushennings9513]

Yes access for periodic cleaning is what many systems seem to lack. I always try to take that into account and will plumb in clean out fittings so I can run a mop through from at least one side.

[@melody5437]

@@RichardBronosky How would you clean this one? It's something I've been meaning to ask,

[@RichardBronosky]

@@melody5437 what do you mean by "this one"? PVC pipe, PVC fence post, or PVC gutter? The gutter is obvious in how to clean, I believe. The post, I would seal with silicone caulk instead of glue so I could knock the ends off with a plastic "dead blow hammer" and clean once to 4 times a year. The pipe, I would build with a screw cap on at least one end. If I had to clean one that wasn't designed with cleaning ahead of time, I would try putting a box of Rock Salt in it an white vinegar and shake it about 4 times an hour for one day. I would only resort to harsh chemicals if time and wisdom failed. What's your situation?

[@melody5437]

@@RichardBronosky Don't have one - that's why I asked. It turns out he has a video on how he cleans his system, however.

[@jonnyrox116]

I've toyed with both and found the round to have more advantages than the square. Cost is a biggy, those square post jackets are 4× the price of the pipe and the endcaps are also. I drilled the pipe so that a 1" piece of 2" pvc pipe could be forced into the hole giving me a flat seat for the netcups. I also use test caps on 1 end that can be easily removed and a threaded cap on the other so you can quickly remove the whole rail for cleaning. Using silicone on those posts is a pain in the ass when it comes to cleanout and reassembly.

[@Khaymen223]

How does the silicone work anyway? I made a homemade cloner out of a plastic tote and tried using silicone and everyother type of caulk that is sold at lowes.....No caulk holds up to the nutrient solution (which are salt based). I swear every caulk I've tried has melted in less than a month.

[@chrisl7608]

@@Khaymen223 pure silicone. You can also ask advice from salt water fish hobbyists on non-silicone sealants they use if it doesn't work well for you

[@schawn4925]

For the pvc I would just use Fernco's PlumbQwik tees. They have steel bands you can unscrew at the joints. Great video btw

[@brentbillings1498]

You don't need to glue the joints on the drain side of the round PVC because there is no pressure on the joint. A tight dry fit should be all you need. It would make the round system just as modular. You can also cut short stand pipes for the net cups, glue those to the round pipe and then the next cups are secure.

[@PD-yd3fr]

piece of 3" pipe 1/2" long, glue in place

[@cmoniz905]

Mine leaked. I didn’t want to use pvc glue to be able to remove and clean. I had a slow but consistent drips. I used food grade silicone to seal.

[@CGreciful]

I was considering square, but just did some more research. Square fence post is vinyl PVC, not uPVC like pipes for drinking water. Very toxic stuff that leaches phalates, BpA, etc. uPVC like they use in pipes is similar, but they keep the nasty stuff out for drinking water contact. Stay safe. Also you could bend PVC pipe with a hairdryer and board to flatten off the cup holding shape.

[@diabolicalgaming4876]

Do you flood that 4" square pipe to accommodate the smaller grow baskets? Thanks for the video's and am about to start my first grow!

[@spifflifkin]

Great video! Thank for the information. This helped me a lot!

[@tangobayus]

I had a tube system that got clogged by the roots of the plants. I now do deep water culture. Simple, cheap, easy to maintain, productive.

[@drzavahercegbosnaponosna5974]

could you give us any DIY link about "deep water culture"?

[@psymonkey1337]

Rectangular seems clearly superior. Thank you for laying the groundwork.

[@richlaue]

I use square for the side flat bottom which allows for a greater amount of nutrient film.

[@richardurdaneta530]

Thank you brother for the information 😊

[@Josh-mh3kl]

You can heat up the cups and melt the top to mold to the round rail so they won't lean to one side

[@juddi753]

Peace...excellent video and instruction. Is there a catch pan under all this ? I like the tier concept. Would be nice if each tier could roll out like drawe

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

No catch pan, we just made sure it was leak-free :) That is a cool idea to have roll out tiers! Would take some creativity with the inlet and outlet tubes to allow for it.

[@juddi753]

Hmmmm...looking at the video you're using interconnect between square tubing so if the system feeding nutrients are the same all required is one(1) feed line in and one(1) feed return out . You're doing side fixed connection to/with flex conduit . Maybe with enough slack in the flex conduit between troughs and recover tub the troughs could be pulled out to harvest and work the back troughs. Just Brain storming.

[@noahheninger881]

Any concerns for chemicals leeching out of the plastic over time? I believe the square fence posts are generally recycled composite plastic....

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

I recently did a water test to check for plastic leachates and the results were very good (I'll have a video about it soon). I've also done quite a bit of online research on the topic and I have no concerns. This is an article summarizing what I've found: www.simplegreenshydroponics.com/posts/2021/is-pvc-safe-for-hydroponics

[@FoButter]

@@SimpleGreensHydroponics neat!

[@blessboystory9690]

Can i ask about the grow light you used? Is that a strip lights?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Check out our most recent video on lighting for all the details :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/paHCqGqqpNmao8U

[@janishuegel5914]

Excellent and well thought out information...thanks

[@flywithme3578]

Nice setup buddy

[@tinyhydrogreens1932]

How easy is to clean the pipes? For a system to be successful, it has to be easy to maintain and clean. From the video I see that you are gluing both end caps, and that makes the cleaning harder. From my experience as a DIY building hydroponics systems, I can say that using trays instead of pipes is the most effective system because it requires less piping connectors and it is much easier to put apart and clean. I built a 2x4 vertical system with Home Depot shelves and 2x4 trays, very similar to the vertical system from BootStrap farmers. Thank you for sharing.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

The square system is fairly easy to clean since we can quickly disassemble it, though we've found that there isn't usually much to clean out - the system stays pretty clean on its own, especially with something like lettuce that is being harvested regularly and isn't leaving giant root wads behind. I'm planning to do a video cleaning in the near future.

[@3dtomecoates92]

I've been growing hydroponic lettuce using the Kratky method using a variety of containers, but I love your system using the fence posts. I was about to redo my setup with raingutters which require heating and closing the ends, but I want to use a pump and reservoir system like yours. How did you plumb the four post rails together. It appears that you have on input line. Are they all connected at the far end (similar to what the PVC round pipe ends up being)? I checked you website but didn't find anything on plumbing more than 2 posts. Look forward to more videos and posts.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

The 4 square rails actually use a zig-zag pattern for the flow. So the flow comes in one single line on the left side of the first post, crosses to the second post on the far right, then crosses to the third post on the far left, crosses to the fourth post on the far right, and then returns to the reservoir through one outlet on the left side of the fourth post. So it's a little different from the round pipe setup. The square post setup is a little nicer because it only needs one outlet instead of three.

[@kolobkolobkolobkolob]

Those have e plaster users in the vinyle it is not safe per a chemical engineer I know. Stick with PVC that is a 51 or 61 and schedule 40 off white pipe. Also make sure not to accidentally purchase schedule 40 series foam core by accident. Just plain schedule 40 pipe. Best wishes

[@violetreylophi]

Are you using regular PVC tubing, or a #2,4,5,?

[@Maloquinn]

Hi there, do you have the heights anywhere for you inlets and outlets on the round tubing to make it run correctly? The fence posts are too expensive where I live. Thanks.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

If you grow seedlings in the system, then put the center of the outlets about 1.5 inches from the top of the cap to keep the water level up. Otherwise put them as low as possible (probably 1.5 inches from the bottom). Inlet is as low as possible, though not a big deal. Hope that helps!

[@Maloquinn]

@@SimpleGreensHydroponics Thanks for the help.

[@echocastillo711]

Can you tell me the distance you used between mature plant's net cups on the square pvc?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

8.25". We have a full 2D drawing of the square system with all the dimensions at our website if you want to see more detail: www.simplegreenshydroponics.com/posts/rail-system/part-1-rails

[@Beelzebub73]

How many gallons need to be in your system for it to run efficiently?

[@porqupine-ridge]

I built the square version on your website exactly and I love it. Did have some small leaks on the cap corners at first. Any tips to not damage roots when moving the net cups down the system?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Good question! I like to try and tuck the roots down into the plant hole before I drop the net cup in. If any roots are still hanging out, rotating the net cup sometimes pulls them down. Once the plants are large I try to leave them be until it's time to harvest.

[@WilliamHanson-m2h]

Great job

[@TripSoup420]

Have you considered turning the square pipe 45 degrees so there is a piont up and pointed down, so not lay flat, that way you could stager the cut outs on opposite sides of the now 2 "tops"?

[@TripSoup420]

Nice video too

[@larryrabathaly9503]

I found your produce in your videos grow quite well so started following your videos the only thing I noticed is that you never show the water level under the net cups which can be done by using a square piece of clear glass or plastic at the ends of the rail while the water is flowing

[@YaH_Gives_Wisdom]

You can easily fix the stability issue on the round grow pipes. Simply heat the higher sides with a heat Gun & push them down until they are flat.

[@jadabaudelaire118]

OR... Custom 3d print net cups that conform to the round pipe...

[@NickWillever]

Are the square vinyl rails NSF 61 certified like most PVC? Assuming it is, but just checking. Does it even matter to much?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

I haven't found anything that says they're NSF certified, but they aren't sold for plumbing so I don't think the manufacturer would have any reason to pay for a certification. I'm not concerned with using them at this point based on my research, but a good thing to look into if you are concerned. I'll work on making a summary of what I've found from the research I've done and hopefully put it on the website.

[@NickWillever]

@@SimpleGreensHydroponics thank you! I've been searching high and low for this too, lots of disinformation out there with this material too, so difficult to wade through it all. I'll keep digging and update you if I find anything. Apparently you can test the plants themselves to see if they have particular particles in them, probably super expensive, unless you can get a university to do it.

[@NickWillever]

@@SimpleGreensHydroponics If the Vinyl you used is created from U-PVC (most likely), then it might actually be safer than the regular PVC, see this link: www.diffen.com/difference/PVC_vs_uPVC

[@apple-on5pq]

@@NickWillever just making sure that lead is not added into the plastic and don't heat up the upvc.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

@@NickWillever Yes there is a lot of info out there with a lot less tangible data. I've seen the same about UPVC, though I'm not 100% sure that the square rails are UPVC since they are slightly pliable (they dent vs break). I just posted the summary of the research I've done so far on the website: www.simplegreenshydroponics.com/posts/2021/is-pvc-safe-for-hydroponics

[@berteau]

How do you control your water depth?

[@checkedoutchris]

I noted that you didn't discuss pricing. From my experience: round tubing is less expensive than square.

[@SIDEKICKONYOUTUBE]

what is the square rail tubing called if i order them from a hardware store ?

[@martinarodrav1001]

Hi! I was wondering if you have to water pumps in your system, one for each level of railing ?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

In the systems shown in this video, I used one pump for each level.

[@martinarodrav1001]

@@SimpleGreensHydroponics oki thanks for your reply 😁 you have inspired me to build one of my own

[@sjo8269]

If you cut the holes on round pvc a little wider you can save the cups from being wobbly

[@jamiecoxe7327]

You missed covering the price difference between the two.

[@geedubb-q1u]

Use vinyl downspout 10’ length. You can get it for less than 15 bucks. Looks like he uses vinyl fence posts which are more expensive.

[@kristiangoncalves]

Even if you use pvc cement on the round pipes you can seperate them with a little heat. While not ideal it can be done

[@marcvwest]

Where are you getting your square tubing? Anyone found a cheap option and Caps?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Home Depot

[@DanScottChannel]

So, with this setup, you are basically sowing 4 new seeldings per week then moving everything forward each week after harvesting the 4 plants at the end of the chain? Also, I see others doing hydroponic's using Kratky where they say not to add nutrient to the starts? Many of them use Masterblend. So, obviously your starts are in the same nutrient water solution as the mature plants with no problems?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Yes, exactly, we try to harvest 4 plants each week and replace them with seedlings, moving everything forward (we have a recent video showing that process). We've had no problems with germination or seedling growth in the full nutrient water.

[@DanScottChannel]

@@SimpleGreensHydroponics Thanks for the info and reply. Great videos!

[@leerike694]

How do you clean out a channel - round and/or square

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

It's pretty simple... Making a video about that right now! Stay tuned...

[@J0zian]

Which stores can I purchase the square fence rails? It seems Lowe’s and Home Depot don’t sell that specific square. Great video!

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Thanks! We have links to all the materials (including the rails) on our website: www.simplegreenshydroponics.com/posts/rail-system/part-1-rails

[@slautotube1065]

Hi !What kind of lights that you have used?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Check out our video on it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/paHCqGqqpNmao8U

[@JenMarco]

Great information!

[@gumballbreath9466]

I use square milk jugs they work excellent

[@CookingwithYarda]

Awesome garden !! New subscriber here !!

[@jamesstovers200]

Where do you buy the square tube?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Home Depot, all the links are here: simplegreenshydroponics.com/posts/rail-system/part-1-rails

[@eduardoarevalo4643]

Great information ! thanks a lot >)

[@michaelconway644]

the other problem with the rails- they are twice the cost of the plumbing PVC. I was looking at them today (for a vertical garden) Eight foot sections are thirty-eight and change each.

[@kolobkolobkolobkolob]

Do most of u like using 2" net ups in 4" round pipe and or u using 3" holes n net cups or even 4"? Seems 4" net cups likely for bigger plants requiring a 5 or 6" pipe!

[@InquilineKea]

doesn't PVC introduce microplastics in?

[@andru5054]

Hey I was wondering if by then you changed this design. The square pipe has way too many planting spots per square inch and they're going to kill eachother

[@andru5054]

About to build a very similar design and wondering about hole to hole spacing. Any insight would be greatly appreciated

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

I still use the square design and it works really well. I move the plants along the rails as they grow, so only the seedlings are right next to each other. They are moved to an 8 inch spacing as mature plants so there's no crowding.

[@Scoopy4444]

The trust supports are wrong , the screws hold the weight. The beams should be support by a vertical one. Like the way you build a deck. The square shape is very good . Thank you for sharing , i'm looking to build one too.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

I considered that, but decided to use compression on each end of the beams and a screw to hold them in place to reduce the size and materials. Each beam holds less than 20 lbs so not the same loading as a deck. Glad you liked it!

[@HighlanderNorth1]

☑️ Only 0:40 in, and I've already learned a significant disadvantage with round pipes(ie. the unbalanced way the plants sit in the round pipes), which is something you probably wouldn't realize until you've already bought and fully installed the system! Then there's the obvious space-inefficiency with round tubing, limiting you to just 1 row per tube, whereas you can fit 2 rows of (balanced)pods in the square ones. 🙂 🤔 The square tube disadvantage being that it's not inherently as watertight at the ends, and I'd imagine it may be more difficult to find sections of square tubes vs round pipes, because round PVC pipes are sold in a myriad of diameters and lengths for common plumbing and drainage purposes. The square ones are probably sold in a specific length and diameter, for the specific purpose of fencing, which probably also equates to higher cost. But if they work better, then so be it. 👌Personally, I'd wager that using the square fence tubing for a hydroponic system, would actually be a much more effective use for them than fencing! I say that because I've seen several of these square PVC stockade/privacy fences, and they are nowhere near as strong, rigid and solid as they NEED to be! But they are still heavy, which causes leaning and flexing and bending, and they eventually collapse in certain situations! Often after only 1-2 years! I'd NEVER install a PVC fence! A decent quality treated, stained or painted wooden privacy fence will last 2-3 decades if taken care of, and they are far more secure and rigid! But the square PVC posts seem ideally suited for NOT being used as fence posts, but for having lots of holes drilled into their sides, then growing growing stuff inside them instead! 😁

[@indaysandigan3726]

Breeder age na Yan sir mga 1 year na Yan. Abby depende sa quality

[@tradersunited8620]

Really informative..

[@jessiemillares37]

Good day Sir! Where can we buy your nutrients? Is it available online?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

You sure can! There's a link to the nutrients in the video description.

[@jman4715]

Have you ever been able to grow tomatoes in your rail system, or are tomato plants too large for that?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Yes I have! Dwarf plants are best, check out my most recent video for more info on that.

[@srayproctor]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jackattack9799]

square tubing isnt food safe made of vinyl that is injected with chemicals to resist mold and cracking (called manufacture ) , round pvc is food grade safe as it is used as drinking water supply ... that should be a huge factor

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Yes, round PVC is often used for plumbing though many of the larger pipes are still not labeled "food safe". Based on my research I'm not concerned about either though: www.simplegreenshydroponics.com/posts/2021/is-pvc-safe-for-hydroponics

[@MrGeetaron]

Very informative! When the square ends are glued on do you apply silicone AND pvc glue? I suppose they work together to make a good seal...

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Yes, silicone to fill gaps and glue to give it extra strength.

[@npk007kaiser5]

Do you run water 24/7? Or cycles?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

24/7

[@fishtacosarethebest]

Cost wize; it's cheaper to go with the round PVC

[@saleemhabeeb9208]

TDS reading of that lettus culture? Pl.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

Usually between 600-1100 ppm for lettuce. Since I started growing strawberries in the same system I've tried to keep it between 600 and 800 ppm.

[@begingardener275]

WHAT IS TDS reading ?

[@southerntommygun1353]

I like the options the square tubing gives but at $20 a foot it will have to wait.

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

It probably depends on lot on location, but here in WI I can order an 8 ft square tube for around $25, so $3 a foot.

[@myjourneytobeagoodcook36]

hello what is the size of your square type pvc ?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

4 inches x 4 inches.

[@jagababa]

Two things that keeps me from building a hydro farm that way are 1. keeping the water stable, especially when plants are bigger it tends to high ph. How do you keep it stable? 2. dependency on the pump. If it fails, you have only short time to react. Do you have any alarm or failsafe? I would rather go for a deep water culture that in my opinion brings almost the same results and is way more failsafe as it just needs an air-pump. Btw. isn't it a risk using non-biological fertilizer as overdoses might accumulate in the plants?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

1. I have not had any significant issues with pH so it seems like regular water changes keeps it in a good range. 2. I agree about the dependence on the pump, that's why I designed each rail to hold some water even if the pump shuts off. I've left the pumps off for more than 24 hrs during maintenance etc and the plants have done fine.

[@jagababa]

@@SimpleGreensHydroponics thanks for the reply. A larger amount of water might be the biggest adv and keeping water in the tubes in case of emergency is a good idea!

[@overthenever4262]

23 years ago , I went with round ..

[@griyakuhijau6073]

Very good, compare

[@bradbrown2199]

Try a pool noodle cut cross wise. Should fit well in orifices make them donut shsped.

[@flipped9654]

what variety of lettuce is that?

[@SimpleGreensHydroponics]

The main two lettuce varieties in this video are Muir (lighter green leaf lettuce) and Monte Carlo (Romaine). They are both excellent for hydroponic growing from our experience.

[@MrEagleeye58]

What you would like to have is FOOD GRADE PVC.. Most PVC are used for drainage and sewage. PVC GLUE CAn be replaced very easily with DOW 688 which is very sticky and quick drying (not food grade) - as long as does not contact the nutrient solution and it can be easily removed and leaking joints can be easily fixed as external gap application .